RUNNING: Ultra-trail runners set to attempt Manitou’s Revenge

KINGSTON >> Charlie Gadol of New Paltz had a vision for challenging local trail runners with something they may have never experienced before, especially in this area.

That vision became the 54-mile ultra-trail race known as Manitou’s Revenge, a demanding test through the Catskill Mountains that had a successful first year in 2013.

The second edition of the race takes place on Saturday, starting in Maplecrest in Greene County and finishing in Ulster County in Phoenicia.

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Along the way, participants will have to dig deep to find the needed intestinal fortitude to get from start to finish.

“I moved to the area in 2007 (from New Jersey) and started hanging out with a lot of the trail guys,” Gadol said.

“We started talking and figured doing an ultra-trail run in the Catskills would be something people wanted to do. I was pushing for a 100-mile course, but we settled on this distance instead.”

With the assistance of veteran runner Dick Vincent, who hosts the annual 37-mile Escarpment Trail Run in July, and distance trail runner Tom deHaan, Gadol carved out a course not for the faint of heart.

Elevation, terrain, natural hazards, few aid stations and weather conditions are just some of the factors restricting many trail runners from even attempting the race.

Everyone must finish in 24 hours and runners that don’t make it to certain checkpoints at certain times are pulled off of the course.

On the race’s Facebook page, the disclamier states that it’s “only for those who are highly qualified and/or completely deranged.”

Gadol added that entrants are allowed to have crew or pacers to bring food, water and other supplies to aid stations.

“We have very strict guidelines and you have to have run in another 50-miler in the past two years and met time limits to enter,” Gadol said.

“We also offer the race as a relay and in that instance, each member has to have completed a road marathon, a 50k trail race or something like that, also in the last two years, to apply. It’s not a race for everybody.”

The race starts at the Batavia Kill Recreation Area, heads to Black Dome Trail, up to the Escarpment Trail and onto North Lake.

From there, it’s along the Long Path to Palenville and onto Platte Clove Road to the Platte Clove Reserve near Indian Head, to Devil’s Path and all the way to the finish in the village of Phoenicia.

In all, there are seven peaks with elevations about 3,500 feet on the course.

“The first part is difficult, but the last eight mile on Devil’s Path can take up to four hours for a lot of runners,” Gadol said.

“There comes a point after twilight where it’s much more hiking that running since you’re in the dark with headlamps.”

Gadol said there were 59 entrants in last year’s race and 48 of them finished in less than 24 hours, including every female entrant.

He said the reviews were mainly positive with a few suggestions that will be put into place this year.

“It was mostly rave reviews, especially about the spectacular views on the course,” he said.

“The biggest complaint was a lack of water, in fact, the overall winner told me he was squeezing moisture out of moss along the way. We’re planning to have about 200 gallons (of water) on the course this year, with a few extra aid stations, too.”

This year’s race, which is already closed for registration, has 110 entrants.

Gadol said it would be tough to have a much larger field due to restrictions set by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“DEC rules state that you can’t have more than 15 people at a time in a wildlife area, so we have to send runners out in waves,” he said. “I go over the registrations carefully to get the faster runners out first. We want to be respectful to nature.”

At the end of the race, Gadol said finishers fuel back up with a protein-packed meal provided by the Phoenicia Diner.

“After you run 50 miles, you need a good post-race meal,” he said. “They brought chicken dinners, vegan dinners, all kinds of good sandwiches. Bagels and oranges aren’t going to do it.”

Sponsors for the race include Rock and Snow, Bicycle Depot and Mountain Peak Fitness.